Surname: | van Boetzelaer |
Type: | noble family |
Country: | Netherlands Germany |
Titles: | baron |
Founded: | 13th century |
Van Boetzelaer (or: van den Boetzelaer) is an old aristocratic family that stems from the region of Kalkar, Germany.
The family history in the Duchy of Cleves can be traced back to the 13th century ("Uradel"), when the van Boetzelaers belonged to the local nobility. A castle Boetzelaer in Kalkar was rebuilt from its ruins after WWII. In the sixteenth century, the family settled in The Netherlands. Nowadays, the family belongs to the Dutch nobility. Members carry the title of baron.
Based on the similarity of their coat of arms, it is likely that the van Boetzelaer family are related to the Wesphalian von Galen family. The Boetzelaer coat of arms is depicted in the medieval Gelre Armorial (folio 93r).[1]